Proust Questionnaire

Sidney Poitier

The definition of a perfect gentleman, Sir Sidney Poitier has beguiled audiences for more than 50 years. The eternally debonair leading man not only inspired through his performances but also broke social barriers as the first African-American to win an Oscar for best actor and has continued a lifelong crusade dedicated to human rights. As he turns 80 this month, Poitier reflects on discipline, his shyness, and Thurgood Marshall.

When my consciousness, my instincts, and my values are in tune with the universe.
What is your greatest fear?

Mankind's unwitting extinction by its own misdeeds.
Which historical figure do you most identify with?

Thurgood Marshall.
Which living person do you most admire?

Nelson Mandela.
What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?

The frequent wars between my shyness and my social tendencies.
What is the trait you most deplore in others?

Impoliteness.
What is your greatest extravagance?

Books.
What is your favorite journey?

The one that started with my conception, roughly 80 years ago.
On what occasion do you lie?

First, let me disarm that loaded question. I know how easy it is for one to stay well within moral, ethical, and legal bounds through the skillful use of words—and to thereby spin, sidestep, circumvent, or bend a truth completely out of shape. To that extent, we are all liars on numerous occasions.
What do you dislike most about your appearance?

Are you trying to tell me something I don't know? Far as I can tell, I still have most of my hair, my gut is not hanging over my belt, and I still have all of my teeth.
Which living person do you most despise?

Generally, I tend to despise human behavior rather than human creatures.
What is your greatest regret?

I cannot recall what that might have been, but whatever it was, I survived it. And I have no regrets about that.
What or who is the greatest love of your life?

My wife, my six children, my five grandchildren, my one great-grandchild, and Sproutie, the family dog.
When and where were you happiest?

I was happiest making films, writing books, and surviving prostate cancer.
If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

I wouldn't change a single thing, because one change alters every moment that follows it.
What do you consider your greatest achievement?

I leave that judgment to others and to history.
If you were to die and come back as a person or thing, what do you think it would be?

I don't want to come back. What for?
What is your most treasured possession?

The love of family and friends.
What is your most marked characteristic?